Merino School pays tribute to veterans

Vietnam, Afghanistan veterans share their experiences

Veterans and their families listen as their welcomed to Merino School's Veterans Day Celebration on Thursday. (Callie Jones/Journal-Advocate)

MERINO -- Merino Schools paid tribute to the men and women who served in the military with a special Veterans Day Celebration on Thursday.

Career and Technical Service Organization (CTSO) officers lead the program.

Jessika Gill began the ceremony talking about the history of Veterans Day.

On Nov. 11, 1918, Armistice was declared between the allies and Germany in World War I. From then on it was referred to as Armistice Day, before becoming Veterans Day after World War II and the Korean War.

"We honor them, those who have served and who still are serving in various areas, to thank them and to show our appreciation for all they have done to keep our country safe," Gill said.

CTSO presidents performed the presentation of colors. Afterwards Kate Weimer lead the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance and Theo Kurtzer performed the National Anthem.

Following his performance Moses Hunter read the speech he submitted for the Voice of Democracy contest, about the constitution and its credibility.

"We must realize that it is our freedom that makes our nation, and our nation which makes us, and what makes our freedom is our Constitution. So if we value our freedoms it is obvious that our Constitution is still relevant," he said.

The Merino Grade School, Junior High and High School Choir honored veterans with a performance of "God Bless the USA."

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After the musical performance, Kayelani Kirschbaum, recognized members in each of the military branches.

The celebration also included speeches by several Vietnam veterans and an Afghanistan veteran. Bob Weimer, a Vietnam veteran who served in the Army from 1962-1968, talked about his time working as an aircraft mechanic and flying helicopters during the war.

"Vietnam was a helicopter war and flying a helicopter during Vietnam was an enormous challenge, but I loved every minute of it," he said.

Dan Lewis (right), a Vietnam veteran who served in the Infantry, recognizes Randy McNichols, also a Vietnam veteran, for his help with the Fort Morgan Military History Museum. The museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today. (Callie Jones/Journal-Advocate)

He noted more than 900,000 patients were evacuated during the war and about half were Americans.

Weimer also pointed out that one out of every 10 GI's in Vietnam became a casualty. During the course of the war more than 58,000 GI's died and 304,000 were wounded. Additionally, amputations and crippling wounds were 300 percent higher in Vietnam than they were in World War II; today there are about 75,000 Vietnam vets who are severely wounded and crippled.

"We owe so much to those who sacrificed their lives for this country, and that's for all the veterans of all the wars. I really respect what they did," he said. "You and I owe them so much."

He also introduced Dan Lewis, another Vietnam veteran who was in the Infantry, who talked about his experience.

The Merino Grade School, Junior High and High School Choir perform "God Bless the USA," under the direction of Crystal Stockman.
(Callie Jones/Journal-Advocate)

"I really encourage you today, anytime you see a veteran or an active military person, thank them for their service, because the freedoms that we have today are from the sacrifices that are going on right now," Lewis said.

He invited people to visit the Fort Morgan Military History Museum, located at 404 State St., which will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today.

Afghanistan veteran Carl Maguire, who in May 2011 mobilized in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, also spoke. He returned from that mission in April.

Maguire noted more than one million service members served in Iraq. Approximately 4,700 were killed and about 32,000 were wounded. In Afghanistan, more than 650,000 served, 2,200 died and 18,000 have been wounded.

Carl Maguire, who came back from serving in Afghanistan in April, talks about his experience serving in the military, during Merino School's Veterans Day Celebration. (Callie Jones/Journal-Advocate)

"I want to make sure that we never become numb to those harsh realities of those numbers," he said.

Maguire talked about what veterans hear when someone thanks them and why it may be hard for them to return that thanks.

"Please understand that it's not that we don't want to hear thank you or that we wouldn't be willing to it again to sacrifice for you, but there is just so much more that we hear than thank you," he said.

"When you say thank you, what we veterans here, especially those of us who are combat veterans, what we hear is 'Veteran, it's been a long war; it's been a tough war. You have fought bravely and proudly for your country. You're a member of a special group. You found in your fellow veterans a bond that exists only in combat among brothers. You've shared foxholes; you've held each other in dire moments; you've seen death and you've suffered together. I'm proud that you served and represented America and you deserve a long and happy life of peace.'"

Alexandra Kirschbaum and Aris Shino remember the service men and women during a POW/MIA Candle Ceremony. (Callie Jones/Journal-Advocate)

Maguire encouraged people to send a note to any deployed veterans they know, thanking them for their service to the country and their sacrifices, and to also thank the spouses and children for their sacrifices.

He said that because he "had the honor and privilege of serving with heroes in defense of country" Veterans Day and Memorial Day mean much more to him than they have in the past.

"We recognize that all veterans have given something of themselves to this country and some of them have given all, laying down their lives to defend the freedoms that we hold so dear," Maguire said. "Let us never forget, that we cannot rightfully celebrate the joy of our freedom, without remembering the great price that was paid for that freedom."

The celebration ended with Alexandra Kirschbaum, and Aris Shino remembering the missing veterans with a POW/MIA Candle Ceremony.

Following the program students had the opportunity to look over various military memorabilia brought by the veterans and the CTSO officers enjoyed lunch with the veterans.

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